Holders UL off to flying start in Fitzgibbon Cup as Mary I's fixture is postponed

HOLDERS University of Limerick (UL) got the defence of their Electric Ireland Fitgzibbon Cup off to an impressive start when easing past ATU Galway 3-25 to 0-14 in their opening group fixture at the University of Galway Airdome on Wednesday night.

UL laid the foundation for this runaway win in the opening half after which the holders enjoyed a 1-19 to 0-9 interval lead. They had earlier led the opening round contest 0-10 to 0-4 after 20 minutes.

The UL goal in that opening half came courtesy of team captain, Mark Rogers, of Clare.

A slick, ruthless UL side continued to dominate the contest in the second period. The Limerick-based side added two further goals through Limerick's Adam English as well as Ian Byrne, of Kilkenny.

English helped himself to 1-4 from play in all in an impressive contribution to the win. 

Brian Ryan manages the UL Fitzgibbon Cup side once again this year and has 10 players from Limerick as part of his panel for this year.

Joining English in the UL squad are Colin Coughlan, who scored a hat-trick of points against ATU Galway, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Fergal O'Connor, Aidan O'Connor and Paddy O'Donovan are in from John Kiely's current Limerick senior panel.

Ben Herlihy, Brian O'Grady, Conor Hanley-Clarke and Diarmuid Hegarty are the other Limerick players involved.

UL take on local rivals TUS Mid West in their second group fixture on Wednesday next, January 24.

Meanwhile, Mary Immaculate College Limerick's scheduled group game away to Maynooth University in the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup on Wednesday night was postponed.